Greater New Orleans

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, center, chatting in February with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and local residents who successfully signed up for the Affordable Care Act, is resigning. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)

WASHINGTON -- Kathleen Sebelius is resigning as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. She is the official who got the brunt of the blame -- fairly or unfairly -- for the terrible rollout of the Affordable Care Act's online marketplace.

White House officials confirmed her resignation Thursday night and that President Barack Obama Friday will nominate Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the current director of the Office of Management and Budget, to replace her.

Her departure had been rumored ever since the computer system created to process applications for health insurance under the Affordable Care started so poorly on October 1 that most Americans who tried to sign up couldn't after sometimes spending frustrating hours and even days. Eventually, the system was upgraded, and more than 7 million people signed up -- online, via telephone and at Affordable Care Act service centers.

The president said that Sebelius didn't write the code for the failed computer system, but worked to get the law on track. On Feb. 2, he declared the law had brought peace of mind to Americans with pre-existing conditions who couldn't get affordable health coverage previously for themselves and their families.

"Because of the Affordable Care Act, 100
million Americans have gained free preventive care, like mammograms and
contraceptive care, under their existing plans," Obama said. "Because
of this law, nearly 8 million seniors have saved almost $10 billion on their
medicine because we've closed a gaping hole in Medicare's prescription drug
plan. We're closing the donut hole. And
because of this law, a whole lot of families won't be driven into bankruptcy by
a serious illness, because the Affordable Care Act prevents your insurer from
placing dollar limits on the coverage they provide."

The New York Times said that President Barack Obama accepted her resignation earlier this week. It's not clear what Sebelius, 65, the former governor of Kansas, will do next.

Republicans said her departure doesn't change their negative view on the Affordable Care Act.

"Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius' resignation does not really hold the Obama Administration accountable for the failed law," said Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge and a candidate for the Senate. "Thousands of Louisiana families lost the healthcare plans they liked. Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted trying to implement, and then fix, a broken website. It does not matter who is in charge of HHS, we still need to repeal Obamacare and replace it with solutions that put the patient in charge, not Washington."

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.,
praised Sebelius.

"Secretary Sebelius has served with
great distinction over the past five years, overseeing the complex
implementation of the Affordable Care Act and working day-in and day-out to
ensure that more Americans can lead healthier lives," Hoyer said. "Thanks, in large part, to
her efforts and leadership, 7.5 million Americans now have coverage through the
state and federal health insurance marketplaces, no one faces discrimination
because of a pre-existing condition, and Medicare beneficiaries have access to
a range of preventive care services for free."

Burwell, a Harvard- and Oxford-educated economist, is well-versed in health-care issues, White House officials said. The Office of Management and Budget, which she now oversees, plays a big role in health care policy.